This balanced and thoughtful book presents a thorough analysis of the dynamics of Chinaamprsquos foreign political and economic relations. Sebastian Heilmann and Dirk H. Schmidt consider Chinaamprsquos view of the world its foreign policy decisionmaking process its major bilateral relations and key policy issues such as trade and investment security human rights and climate change. The authors also assess how Chinaamprsquos often unconventional and hidden activities underlying its global expansion challenge Western predominance. By explicitly addressing controversies and conflicts and providing rich information and balanced arguments Heilmann and Schmidt demonstrate that the institutions procedures and policies that are shaping Chinese foreign relations are far more complex and fluid than standard IR theory or media reporting suggest.